Michigan State University economics professor Charles Ballard called the economic and tax policies instituted by Gov. Rick Snyder and Republican legislators “a mixture of pluses and minuses.”

Ballard, an expert in taxes and budgets who also is author of “Michigan’s Economic Future: A New Look,” spoke to a gathering of about 40 people Tuesday at the March Economic Club at the Christian Family Centre. The economic club is sponsored by the Adrian Area Chamber of Commerce.

“I think we’re modestly moving in the right direction, at least in some ways,” Ballard said in response to a question.

Ballard praised the repeal of the Michigan Business Tax, but he said it would have been better if the Legislature had fully replaced the revenue that was lost from the tax.

“I did want to fully replace the revenue, and we didn’t do that,” Ballard said.

Michigan’s new right-to-work law, which takes effect at the end of this month, will not have a dramatic effect on job attraction, Ballard said.

“The fact is, it may attract some jobs, it’s just not going to be big, because there’s something else that’s way, way, way bigger,” Ballard said.

What states with higher per capita incomes have in common is a highly educated work force, Ballard said.

“In the last 40 to 50 years, the payoff to the highly skilled has skyrocketed, and the payoff to the less skilled has not,” Ballard said.

Using a graph that plotted per capita income with level of education, Ballard compared Michigan to other states in the Great Lakes region. The graph showed a direct correlation between educational level and per capita income, starting with Minnesota and followed by Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and Michigan.

On higher education, Ballard said Michigan has pursued a policy “that goes in the wrong direction.”

About 50 years ago, MSU got 77 percent of its budget from state appropriations. Tuition accounted for 20 percent and the other 3 percent came from federal grants, private giving and miscellaneous, Ballard said.

Now, tuition accounts for 70 percent of MSU’s budget, state appropriations account for 22 percent and the other 8 percent comes from sources such as federal research grants and fund drives, he said.

“I personally would push for greater public support for higher ed,” Ballard said.